Digital Pioneers Academy Joins Cohort to Reimagine K-12 Learning

Washington, D.C., May 3, 2017 – Digital Pioneers Academy is proud to announce its selection as a member of the 2017 Invent cohort at NewSchools Venture Fund.

Digital Pioneers Academy is one of 28 organizations in the 2017 investment group. Each cohort member is committed to launch a new, innovative school or instructional model designed to meet all students where they are, help them succeed, and inspire them to create a brighter future for us all. In addition to the funding, NewSchools will provide management assistance and create a community of practice for the cohort members.

Digital Pioneers Academy will be a college preparatory middle and high school (6th-12th grade) for students from Ward 7 and 8 in Washington, D.C. The school will provide a unique, personalized educational experience that integrates best practices from schools across the country, preparing students to be innovators and active citizens in our technology-driven world. The DC Public Charter School Board meets on May 22nd to approve new schools for Fall 2018.

The learning model at Digital Pioneers Academy will leverage a curriculum built around traditional subjects with the critical inclusion of Computer Science as a core content area. Through core classes and personalized, project-based work, students will develop computational thinking skills, a set of capabilities that can be flexibly applied to succeed in four-year college and in a variety of fields.

“We have a mission here at Digital Pioneers Academy to prepare our students to meet high academic standards and build character strengths to succeed in four-year colleges and 21st-century careers,” said Mashea Ashton.

“Too many of today’s schools were built for a different time and purpose,” said Scott Benson, Managing Partner at NewSchools Venture Fund. “We believe schools can be reimagined to better prepare young people for the future. That’s why NewSchools Invent is proud to invest in these teams of educators who are thinking boldly and creating new opportunities to set students up for success, regardless of where they’re from.”

About Digital Pioneers Academy

Digital Pioneers Academy is a prposed college preparatory middle and high school (6th-12th grade) for students from Ward 7 and 8 in Washington, D.C. beginning in 2018. Our main objective is to prepare students to meet or exceed the highest academic standards, while cultivating the strength of character necessary to both graduate from four-year colleges and persist in 21st century careers.

NewSchools Venture Fund is a national nonprofit that finds, funds and supports promising and innovative education entrepreneurs, teams of educators and education leaders. We help them accomplish their missions to achieve outstanding results for the schools, students and educators they serve. We are committed to helping students graduate high school prepared and inspired to achieve their most ambitious dreams and plans. Through our investing, management assistance, network building, and thought leadership, NewSchools helps to reimagine K–12 education.